Author: AFSI Staff

Approximately one hundred Border Police officers and inspectors from the Civil Administration raided the homesteads ‘Sde Yonatan’ and ‘Or Meir’ in the Binyamin region this morning. The security forces demolished all the buildings at both locations, including residences and a sheepfold.

The residents of the homesteads claimed that Arab workers were hired to take part in the demolition and the confiscation of farm equipment. Among other things, the security forces confiscated a generator used to power the lights of the homestead’s security system, as well as heating equipment, despite it still being winter.

Residents of the homesteads criticized the demolition: “Even during wartime, the government is still deep in the misconception and sees settlers as the true enemy. Those who decided, at a time like this, to take one hundred Border Police officers from security assignments to demolish pioneering efforts at these locations are criminals, irresponsible, and dangerous to the lives of all Israeli citizens.”

We know the real enemy will never stand up. But what we do know is that it’s high time for the government to put a stop to treating Jewish residents like they are the enemy.

Source:
Civil Administration demolishes Israeli homesteads, by Israel National News, February 29, 2024

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday held two dedicated situational assessments ahead of the Muslim month of Ramadan, which he warned Hamas and its Iranian masters are attempting to take advantage of.

Gallant said that “Hamas’s main goal is to take Ramadan, with an emphasis on the Temple Mount and Jerusalem, and turn it into the second phase of their plan that began on October 7.

On Wednesday, Hamas chairman and former Palestinian Authority premier Ismail Haniyeh called for mass riots on the Temple Mount during the upcoming Islamic holy month of Ramadan, in the hopes of escalating tensions at the holy site.

Latest unconfirmed reports state that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet will not restrict visits to the Temple Mount by Palestinian Authority residents and Israeli-Arabs during Ramadan.

Whether or not Israel restricts Arab visitors to the Temple Mount matters not. The evil behind the goal of destroying Israel still exists and every security measure must be taken to prevent violence and terrorism at this holy site.

Sources:
Gallant: Hamas, Iran want Ramadan to be phase 2 of 10/7, by Israel National News, February 27, 2024

Hamas chief calls for Arab riots on Temple Mount during Ramadan, by World Israel News Staff, February 28, 2024

No limits on Ramadan visits to Temple Mount: Report, by World Irael News Staff, February 29, 2024

Major General Yehuda Fuchs, commander of the central command, authorized a new community in Gush Etzion – Mishmar Yehuda.

The village will be built in the northeast section of Gush Etzion, near Kedar. This decision was reached a year ago, when the diplomatic-security cabinet ordered the preparations of the groundwork, in addition to eight other new sites.

Head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, Shlomo Neeman, said this evening that “this is a huge gift to the residents of Gush Etzion. This is our best answer to terrorism, to those who want to dispossess us from our ancestral land. This is our answer to the extremists who want to move us away from the places where our ancestors walked. This is also our answer to the nations of the world.”

Source:
Our best answer to terrorism: A new community in Gush Etzion – “Mishmar Yehuda”, by Israel National News, February 27, 2024

Once the Israel Defense Forces launches its military operation in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah, it will be “weeks away from total victory,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS’s Face the Nation in an interview on Sunday.

Plans for the IDF offensive in Rafah, Hamas’s last stronghold in the Gaza Strip, were reviewed by the political echelon on Sunday, the premier said in the interview.

The potential hostages-for-ceasefire deal under discussion in Doha won’t stop the IDF from operating in the city, Netanyahu added.

“If we have a deal, it will be delayed somewhat, but it [the Battle of Rafah] will happen. If we don’t have a deal, we’ll do it anyway,” he stated. What kind of deal might Israel agree to? We pray that she will settle for nothing less than an unconditional return of all the hostages before even discussing prisoner release and/or ceasefire. The talks must also take into account the Hamas leadership enjoying their many billions away from Gaza. They cannot remain free and their funds must be frozen if the Western world is to be safe from their brand of Jihad.

Earlier on Sunday, Netanyahu announced he would “convene the Cabinet to approve the operational plans for action in Rafah, including the evacuation of the civilian population.

“Only a combination of military pressure and firm negotiations will lead to the release of our hostages, the elimination of Hamas and the achievement of all the war’s objectives,” he added.

If Israel is to win this war, then the operation in Rafah needs to happen. Israel must be allowed to protect itself as it sees fit. Anything less would be a win for Hamas and a loss for Israel.

Source:
PM: Israel ‘weeks away from victory’ once IDF begins Rafah op, JNS Update Desk, February 25, 2024

Israel’s UN envoy, Gilad Erdan on Monday slammed UN Secretary-General António Guterres calling on him to resign for his own failings in response to the Hamas October 7 massacre.

Guterres defended UNRWA, the agency for Palestinian refugees, as the “backbone” of aid efforts in Gaza at a time when top Israeli authorities have called for its dismantling, in his speech to the Human Rights Council.

Erdan said Guterres, who expressed understanding for the massacre and solely focused efforts on Gaza’s humanitarian situation, bears significant responsibility for UN agencies operating under him aiding terror, such as UNRWA becoming essentially a terror-supporting organization.

Calling for Gutteres to resign seems like a waste of time unless more UN member nations join Erdan’s call for the UN Secretary General step down. It’s unfortunate that there is not a recall process in place at the UN. Then all rational minded member nations can have Gutteres fired for not doing his job. The UN must DEFUND AND DISMANTLE UNWRA NOW or there is no denying that it is a knowing accessory to terror!

Source:
Israeli UN envoy calls for Guterres resignation over UNRWA role in Oct. 7 massacre, by Itamar Eicher/Ynetnews, February 26, 2024

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced last Thursday that a decision was made to build thousands of new homes in response to the recent murderous terror attack outside of Ma’ale Adumim.

Smotrich called it “an appropriate Zionist response.” We mourn the fact that it too often takes the spilling of Jewish blood for the Israeli government to permit the building to take place. But the attack occurred, and we say build, build, build!

In the discussion that took place, with the participation of Prime Minister Netanyahu, the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Finance and the Minister in the Ministry of Defense and the Minister for Strategic Affairs, it was decided to convene the Supreme Planning Council to approve thousands of housing units in the following communities in Judea and Samaria: Maale Adumim about 2,350 units; Kedar about 300 units; Efrat 694 units.

New housing in the works is what we want to hear but we wish it wasn’t motivated by a terror attack. Housing development and building new communities should be taking place because Israel has a legal right to build on its sovereign owned land.

Source:
Thousands of New Settlement Homes in Response to Ma’ale Adumim Terror Attack, by Jewish Press News Desk, February 22, 2024

At least nine people are reported wounded in a terror attack on Road 1, near Ma’ale Adumim, heading towards Jerusalem. One of the seriously wounded victims has died from their wounds. He has been identified as Matan Elmaliach HY”D, age 26, from Ma’ale Adumim.

Five victims have been transported to the hospital, one of them has since died from their wounds, but not yet been identified. Three are in serious condition, including a woman, age 23, who was shot in the chest, another woman, age 30 who was shot in the chest, and a man, age 23, who was shot in the stomach and lower body. One of the seriously wounded women is pregnant and doctors are trying to save the baby.

Police report that three terrorists took advantage of the traffic jam on Road 1 near the A-Zaim checkpoint. They got out of their car, pulled out their automatic weapons and opened fire on cars sitting in traffic.

One terrorist was immediately killed. A second was neutralized. The third tried to escape and was found and killed. All three are from villages around Beit Lechem.

Source:
Dead and Multiple Wounded in Terror Attack Near Ma’ale Adumim Traffic Jam, by Jewish Press News Desk, February 22, 2024
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/terrorism-news/multiple-wounded-in-terror-attack-near-maale-adumim-traffic-jam/2024/02/22/

A poll conducted in the WhatsApp group of Kan 11 News on Tuesday, following the interview with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, asked the participants whether they agree with Smotrich’s remarks that the most important goal right now is to defeat Hamas.

More than 1,600 respondents supported Minister Smotrich’s opinion and answered “yes, victory is more important”. Only 353 supported the answer “no, the most important thing is the return of the hostages”.

Never has Israel had a harder decision to make but on the other hand, it’s an easy one. Indeed, this is a hard pill to swallow but if Hamas is not eliminated then Gaza and terrorism remain an ongoing threat to Israel.

Source:
Poll: Widespread support for Smotrich’s position on the war, by Israel National News

Palestinians in Gaza demonstrated against Hamas Tuesday night, with protests taking place both in the northern and southern sections of the coastal enclave.

In footage shown on X of the protest in the Jabalya refugee camp in the northern section, people can be seen chanting “Shiites, Shiites,” a reference to the branch of Islam espoused by both Hamas and its Iranian patrons. “We need food, we need flour, Sinwar and Haniyeh, stay away from our people, you thieves.”

Will this be reported on by mainstream media outlets who have accused Israel of denying humanitarian aid to Gazans? We think not since it’s always Israel who is the aggressor, right?

Source:
Palestinians in Gaza demonstrate against Hamas, by Batya Jerenberg/World Israel News, February 21, 2024

The Israeli Cabinet on Sunday approved a statement rejecting any unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood, amid reports the Biden administration is considering such a move.

“In light of remarks that have been heard recently in the international community about an attempt to unilaterally force a Palestinian state on Israel, today I submit for government approval a declarative decision on the issue. I am certain that it will receive very broad support,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the beginning of Sunday’s weekly Cabinet meeting.

His office subsequently released the text of the statement:

1. Israel utterly rejects international diktats regarding a permanent settlement with the Palestinians. A settlement, if it is to be reached, will come about solely through direct negotiations between the parties, without preconditions.

2. Israel will continue to oppose unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. Such recognition in the wake of the October 7th massacre would be a massive and unprecedented reward to terrorism and would prevent any future peace settlement.

Israel must remain consistent on this unanimous decision. It should not take another massacre to understand that the delusional TWO-STATE SOLUTION can ever happen.

Source:
Israeli cabinet rejects global recognition of Palestinian state, by Charles Bybelezer/JNS, February 18, 2024